New gaming rig

[dagz85]

CPU- AMD X2 3800+ 322$

GFX- eVGA Geforce 7800GT 256-P2-N515-AX Desktop PC - Retail 319$

MOBO- DFI LANPARTY UT nF4 Ultra-D ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail 128$

Thermaltake CL- P0114 Big Typhoon 4 in 1 Heatpipes CPU Fan <--- will this work with x2 3800+ ? 48$

Western Digital Raptor 74GB 3.5" Serial ATA150 Hard Drive - OEM 164$



I aint sure about memory, this is where I need some suggestions. Should I stay with ddr400 or go ddr500? I want 2 gigs this time as well... does the DFI lanparty even support ddr500? As far as the cpu... I want an opteron 165 for 350$ but I cant find it anywhere...

 

[mdchesne]

um.. you only leave us with approx $50 if your budget it $1000 and you want those hardwares.

as for ram, get ddr500. XMS or Patriot in my opinion. you can get a 2gb dual core package for under $250 with 2-3-2-5 timings. great for OCing with that mobo. as for the opteron, check zipzoomfly.com
they still have it, i know
don't forget your monitor and case, PSU

will the HSF work with your cpu?
Application: Intel LGA775; P4 478 Prescott FMB1.5; AMD Athlon 64/64 FX; XP upto 3400+; Sempron upto 3400+
YES

though i prefer never to buy anything thermaltake. try to get an xp90 ro 120

 

[velis]

Go DDR 500 only if you intend to overclock. Otherwise it's unnecessary.
I'd replace the Raptor with a 7200 RPM drive unless you're cool with the noise. There isn't much performance difference anyway.

 

[imported_rod]

ddr500 is pointless unless you are overclocking.

Also, I would choose a different HSF. Either the zalman 9500 or the thermalright XP-90/XP-120 with a decent fan.

RoD

 

[dagz85]

I am overclocking, this is one of my main focuses of why I am buying this rig. I was thinking of either that heatsink or the scythe ninja.. dunno yet tho. I guess I can bump my budget up for a few more $'s. I have a monitor and I have a case.

 

[mdchesne]

your best bet then would be to get an opteron, ddr500 ram with as low of latency as you can afford, and DUAL raptors. one won't be too big of a difference from a normal 7200

 

[dagz85]

opteron 165? I want a dual core, I am currently on a 3500+ and I heard how sweet the dual cores are. I cant find a 165 in stock tho for 350$ now tho. Also, down the line I will probably get another dual raptor. Right now tho I want to stay within my budget range. Zipzoomfly is sold out on 165's atm. Unless if I read it wrong..

 

[mdchesne]

the only reason why you'd need or even want a dula core is if you're running some program in the background, and playing a game in the foreground. if you can wait to defrag your HDD until after you game, you don't need to spend an extra $200 for the extra core minus 200 mhz in core speed.
at least IMO

 

[dagz85]

I want dual core. I want to burn while I game, I want winamp, aim and all the other junk to run on the other core. I want to encode videos while I game also. My two main things is me encoding videos and gaming. Cant do that at the same time on a single core. Also I want to be ready for future multi tasking games (unreal 3 engine etc).

 

[mdchesne]

then i would suggest the cheapest dual core opteron you can find. they overclock like mad anyways. save yourself a crapton of money and overclock a few hundred mhz and you'll see what i'm talking about.

example (not dual core, but principle remains): I just bought an opteron 148 for $238. 2.2 stock... can overclock to 2.9 on stock voltage and cooling. price i saved instead of buying the 2.8 version: about $1000+ :laugh:

 

[dagz85]

cheapest dual core opteron? I should go below the 148? kinda old no? This is why I want a 165, its dual core and I can oc it like mad =\. oos tho... maybe I can get one off of ebay...

 

[mdchesne]

i didn't say get the 148. 148 isn't even dual core. if the 165 is dual core, get that. i think it's like 1.8 right? you could theoretically get that little ah heck to 2.2 easily. I'm not too familiar with the dual core OCing, so maybe 2.4 tops?

 

[dagz85]

ya I know 148 isnt dual core. I want the 165... BAD, I aint paying 400$ for one tho... I heard people ocing it past 2.5 with good cooling.

 

[mdchesne]

365
359
350 w/ free 2nd day shipping <- might be your best bet. where I got mine from

 

[imported_rod]

opteron 165 - otherwise, go with an X2 3800+

 

[dagz85]

Originally posted by: mdchesne
365
359
350 w/ free 2nd day shipping <- might be your best bet. where I got mine from

1) oos
2) in stock
3) oos

seems like my only bet is ebay...

 

[imported_rod]

just go for an X2. There isn't a whole world of difference, and I'd prefer a new X2 than a 2nd hand opteron.

 

[GamerExpress]

Originally posted by: rod
ddr500 is pointless unless you are overclocking.

Also, I would choose a different HSF. Either the zalman 9500 or the thermalright XP-90/XP-120 with a decent fan.

RoD

Yep I agree....also you really should check out the eVGA combos with the MOBO and Video Card it could save you some cash. I heard that the eVGA boards are very nice too.

 

[Mavrick007]

I know they're pretty expensive, but how are the Opteron 175 Denmark chips for overclocking? They have a 2 meg cache and are 2.2ghz out of the box.

 

[dagz85]

Still cant find the 165 at a store for in the 300's. There is one on ebay but he charges 20$ for shipping lol...

 

[DRAGoNX515]

Originally posted by: rod
ddr500 is pointless unless you are overclocking.

Also, I would choose a different HSF. Either the zalman 9500 or the thermalright XP-90/XP-120 with a decent fan.

RoD

Thermalright SI-120 would be better than the XP, better compatibility and even better cooling compared to XP and Zalman.

 

[dagz85]

What about the scythe ninja? Also I still cant find a retailer for the opteron 165's in the 350$ range. Does anyone know if there are any stores that will restock before christmas?

 

[DRAGoNX515]

Originally posted by: dagz85
What about the scythe ninja? Also I still cant find a retailer for the opteron 165's in the 350$ range. Does anyone know if there are any stores that will restock before christmas?

I would still prefer the SI-120 to the Ninja. About the opterons...*still looking*

 

[dagz85]

ebay is out on the opteron 165's atm.. guess did BO on that auction.